Sunday XI – JC produces a modern day miracle

On a blazing hot Sunday afternoon the Select rocked up at SJP for their first home game of the season. The team a little younger than normal (much to Rappo’s annoyance, having not made the final selection) contained two players making their Sunday debuts and one making his second start after debuting in the victory over Keymer & Hassocks in the last game. The Poynings team that arrived to play were as it happened marginally younger. The skippers inspected the wicket with Poynings winning the toss and electing to field.

After a brief chat to settle any nerves the batting order was announced with Jack Smart on debut volunteering to take the No.1 slot, his partner on this occasion was to be Rich Mamoany. Sadly for Jack his debut only lasted three balls as he wafted at an out-swinging delivery to be nabbed behind the stumps (the impetuousness of youth), Ben Hughes was next into the fray as he and Rich looked to steady the ship, Rich looking good value for his 32 as he stroked the ball around the park, Ben however fell to a leg stump yorker for 3. This bought Niall Murphy to the crease to continue building the innings with Rich, both guys looking relatively untroubled as they added to the scoreboard with ease. All was to end as Rich got into a pickle down the leg side and top edged a catch to first slip (who took it on the run over his shoulder). So out strode our Lord and Saviour the mighty JC (otherwise known in the real world as Mason Foley) to carry on where Rich had left off. He and Niall played a mix of aggressive hitting and watchful nurdling as the score kept ticking over at an alarming rate. Niall fell four short of his half century when one leg side tickle too many was taken by the keeper, he walked off thinking what could’ve been but we certainly weren’t expecting what happened next as a flurry of wickets came and went (mainly to Zac Waddingham 4-0-7-5) which threatened to turn the game on its head. Adam Hughes and Lewis Mamoany both failed to trouble the scorers (in Lewis’s case his 2nd golden duck in as many innings), the skipper struck out for 2 playing the most agricultural of shots (I know I’ve seen the video Davo took of it), quickly followed by Amy Butterfill who also stuck out for a duck egg on debut, Owen Larder managed to score 6 before he also departed, leaving just Tristan Hepburn to bat with JC. At the second drinks break the skipper imparted words of wisdom to the batsman , with JC on 68 “Tristan don’t you dare get out until JC has his high score, he needs 10 more runs” with fear in his eyes Tristan returned to the crease. A couple of overs later and a large appeal for caught behind was turned down, JC took this as a sign to step up the run rate, he proceeded to blast the ball to the boundary surpassing the 78 runs needed for his best, with the score approaching the 200 mark the skipper signalled his intent to declare with JC fast approaching his maiden century. After 35 overs we decided we had enough runs so declared on 216-9 with JC on 106 not out (our second centurion of the season) ably supported by Tristan 9 not out.

A truly scrumptious tea provided by Sarah Hughes was consumed at a leisurely pace as we all soaked up the sun and looked forward to trying to bowl Poynings out.

We started our assault on the Poynings batsman with our regular opener Tristan supported at the other end by Owen. The two young men bowling excellent lines to keep the Poynings batsman on their mettle. Tristan struck to remove the opener and ended his spell with a very respectable 1-8, a double bowling change saw Amy Butterfill and Ben Hughes take the ball, Ben bowling some indifferent lines and looking tired after his late night shift, Amy on the other hand was rewarded with a debut wicket to make up for her first baller as she clean bowled the other opener in what was a tidy spell of bowling. Rich was bought into the attack as Poynings steadily continued to make an assault on the target required. They obviously hadn’t seen anything like the pie throwing big man before and Rich was rewarded with his 2nd wicket of the season as the Poynings No.3 gently spooned one to Niall. A double and decisive bowling change saw the spin twins Lewis and Niall bought into the attack with Poynings only 3 wickets down, this was soon to change as Niall cursing his luck as catch after catch went down took matters into his own hands by bowling the No.8, however we all watched as Lewis produced a phenomenal spell of 4-0-6-5 taking wicket after wicket to halt the Poynings assault in its tracks. With the final wicket coming in Poynings needed 30 runs from 7 overs but disaster struck the visitors as the last man was run out without facing a ball by our latest centurion. Poynings finishing on 183 all out.

A massive thanks to the visitors who made it a close game, to the supporters who came and basked in the sun and to Sarah for her excellent tea. Thanks to the ground staff for providing a decent track to play on.

So the Select remain unbeaten and are in action again on 05th August when they take on the Pirate XI.